5/24/26 New Noize on 92.9 KJEE Santa Barbara's Modern Rock

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Song of the Week: Vince Staples "White Flag" Loma Vista
Album of the Week: Ecca Vandal "LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW" Loma Vista

Vince Staples "White Flag"
Ecca Vandal "EYES SHUT"
Mike D "What We Got Right"
Blondshell "Heart Has To Work So Hard"
Bleachers "We Should Talk"
Future Islands "Six Weeks"
Paper Pools "A Field of Poppy"
Sungaze "Sold Out"
Kyle Morgan "Paper Towel Ballad"
Lennie Rayen "Snake Song"
Sea Moss "First Greens"
Miscomings "I'm Blue"
it foot, it ears(feat. Vie) "Begats"
Cigarettes After Sex "Twizzler"
Sharada Shashidhar "Reassurance"
TOKiMONSTA "Joy Without Sound"

-hour 2-

Jorja Smith "What's Done Is Done"
Jordan Patterson "Just My Friend"
The Rose Hips "Spacey"
My Precious Bunny "KookieCannibal"
Panic Shack "grin & bear it"
Gurriers "Nobody's Coming To Save You"
Quicksand "Crystallize"
Graham Coxon "Alright"
Ed O'Brien "Sweet Spot"
aja monet "song of myself"
Marisa Anderson "Zar"
The Haunted Youth & Max Fry "deathwish"
Post Sex Nachos (feat. BAILEN) "A Lot To Lose"
A Certain Ratio "Lucinda"
A Certain Ratio "Naked and White"
Camp Crush "I Love You Always Forever"
April and VISTA "Do What You Know"

Image made with AI and a lot of knicks yearning

NOT ON SPOTIFY:
Paper Pools "A Field of Poppy"
Camp Crush "I Love You Always Forever"

Technically yesterday was a holiday, so I'm not late with a Tuesday update.

With that said...

WHAT DID I SAY?! KNICKS IN 4 ALL DAY AGAINST THE CAVS!!! I'MMA BE UNCORAGEABLE NEXT WEEK WHEN THE KNICKS ARE IN THE NBA FINALS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

The last time the Knicks were in the Finals, I was 19, attending Seton Hall University, with jet-black hair all the way down my back. A lot has changed since then, but one thing hasn't: my love for the New York Knickerbockers and my hope of seeing them win an NBA championship.

I've been alive for 46 years and the Knicks have never won a title in my lifetime. Will it happen this year? I can't answer that. What I can say with certainty is that I will be representing hard out here on the West Coast. Seriously, if I hear another amateur SoCal sports analyst explain how the Knicks are going to fold against whoever comes out of the West, I may have to demonstrate how we fold up people from the West personally.

Another thing I can say with 100% certainty is that New Noize will be firing at a higher shooting percentage than Landry Shamet in the Eastern Conference Finals. (That's a record-setting 91.7%, by the way.)

Now that we've gotten that out of the way...

Wait, wait, wait.

I saw The Mandalorian & Grogu do their thing, and I'm happy to report that it's a great flick. I don't spoil things and I'm not about to start now. All I'll say is that it's a fantastic space western made for both the greenest and most decorated Star Wars fans.

OK, now let's get into New Noize, which was very much on its own vibe this week.

I had a lot of looser-fitting pieces throughout the set. Artists with noisier, more avant-garde tendencies took center stage, but instead of giving them a dedicated spotlight, I scattered them throughout the two-hour show. Somehow it worked. At least it worked for me.

Album of the Week contenders included Future Islands, Sungaze, aja monet, and Tip Toe Loops by it foot, it ears. All of these records shine in their own ways.

Future Islands' latest release is a celebration of all things Future Islands. No, seriously they released 20 songs for 20 years. While it's clearly catered toward longtime fans, new listeners could absolutely begin their Future Islands journey here.

Sungaze brings their bright shoegaze style to I'm No Longer Afraid of Heights, which may or may not be a statement filled with false confidence. You know when you tell yourself you're not afraid of something even though you absolutely are? Confidence isn't about pretending fear doesn't exist. It's about dealing with your fears rather than running from them. That's how this record feels. It's optimistic and, dare I say, uplifting, despite all the glorious walls of feedback.

aja monet's latest release will transport you far away while simultaneously grounding you in the present moment and you don't even have to take off your shoes. This is a record that encourages exploration while reminding you to stay aware of your surroundings.

I've been waiting for the full-length release of Tip Toe Loops by it foot, it ears with great anticipation. I love this record, and longtime fans will too. It would have been my Album of the Week if the next release hadn't arrived.

That release is LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW.

Ecca Vandal is back with another aggressively Ecca Vandal record. This album pushes her already unconventional style even further into a frantic genre-blending experience that jumps between ideas faster than most artists change musical directions. Her vocals rasp across landscapes that never ask for permission. The record simply assumes you bought a ticket and it's time to strap in. Whether you hold on tight or spill out of your seat, the result is the same; you'll come out the other side different, but safe.

There's a certain maturity here for longtime Ecca Vandal fans, with plenty of Easter eggs referencing earlier projects. The album carries a cinematic quality throughout its nearly 42-minute runtime, positioning the listener alongside our hero as she navigates a chaotic reality.

I've revisited this record multiple times and continue to uncover new details with every listen. Midway through, there are groove-heavy, laid-back moments where smoother vocals take center stage. Eventually the record ramps back into its aggression, but now those calmer textures remain, creating a third act that couldn't exist without the first two.

THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO LISTEN TO ALBUMS IN ORDER, FRONT TO BACK.

Don't worry, single-serving listeners. We all know who you are. You can't make it through three songs before jumping to another record.

The funny thing is that any of these songs could stand on their own as singles. The album even works surprisingly well on shuffle, which raises the question: was that intentional?

Only one way to find out.

Listen to LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO UNFOLLOW.

I also wanted to highlight a record I completely missed last month: Traditional Noise by April and VISTA.

My bad.

This just proves that I'm human and sometimes things fly under my radar. The complexities of modern relationships are showcased throughout Traditional Noise, making it a worthy addition to your R&B rotation. Its slick presentation and effortlessly cool style pull you in and might even inspire you to slow dance by yourself. (What do you want from me? I'm hyper-single.)

A Certain Ratio is celebrating two anniversaries this year: 45 years of Sextet and 40 years of Force. Mute Records is reissuing both classics on August 28, so I decided to play a track from each record back-to-back because we here at New Noize love fun. Plus, it's rare that I get to play classic tracks. You've got to love the reissue/new music loophole.

Speaking of back-to-back songs, I also played consecutive tracks from the upcoming collaborative record Big Tube Scene by Sea Moss and Miscomings.

Did it help that both bands recently released music videos for the songs and that you can watch them on YouTube right now?

Yes. Yes, it did.

Mike D released another new song, "What We Got Right," and the rest of us are sitting here wondering where the full record is. So far he's dropped two absolute bangers. Stop making us wait, Mike D.

I got completely wrapped up in Jorja Smith's "What's Done Is Done." Summer is here. But are you?

Your New Noize Song of the Week belongs to Vince Staples and "White Flag." Always political, always quick with a clever response, and constantly entertaining, Vince Staples paints a vivid picture with his latest narrative. His focus is so sharp and effortless that I can never tell whether he's stressed or simply stretching. If you're wondering when his new album Cry Baby arrives, you won't have to wait long. Give it two Fridays.

I just realized my first two tracks this week were my "best of" selections. Clearly I've been a little distracted by all this Knicks basketball. I may have to break out the Timbs on State Street.

And next week is for the gamers.

Is E3 back? We've got a State of Play, Summer Game Fest, and an Xbox Showcase all landing around the same time. State of Play got a two-week advance announcement. What? Usually they give us about 72 hours' notice, not this.

Speculation is running wild.

Summer Game Fest has done a solid job filling the E3-sized hole in our hearts, but 2026 has been an exciting year for games and this feels like the place for some genuine AAA surprises.

Xbox also has new leadership, and CEO Asha Sharma is doing things that actually make me want to own an Xbox in 2026. Seriously, out of the big three, this is the showcase I'm looking forward to the most. What is happening to me in 2026?

Until next time.